Baseball Headline

Sunday May 5, 2002One-Hitter Gives Baseball 4-0 Win, Sweep Over MSU

No. 10/11/12 Florida took advantage of a one-hit nine-inning complete game from starter Keith Ramsey to complete a three-game sweep of Mississippi State with a 4-0 Sunday win before 3,074 fans at Dudy Noble Field. Florida improves to 16-8 in the SEC and 35-13 overall record while Mississippi State drops to 11-12 in the SEC and 27-19-1 overall.

The win, coupled with South Carolina’s 4-2 loss to Ole Miss puts Florida a 0.5 game out of first place at 16-8. South Carolina is in first place in the SEC Eastern Division with a 16-7 record. Six more games league games remain on the schedule. Florida is now 1.0 game behind league leader Alabama (17-7). Alabama closed out the weekend by defeating Georgia 4-2.

Florida became the first opponent to sweep Mississippi State in Starkville for since 1997. Florida was also the last team to sweep MSU in Starkville (1997). The Gators also earned their third SEC sweep of the season. UF has swept Ole Miss and Vanderbilt.

Ramsey allowed just one hit on the day- a Chad Henry single in the first inning- as he registered a complete game 9.0 inning performance. His nine innings were a career-high. After pitching out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning, Ramsey registered 10 consecutive outs from the end of the first inning through the fourth. After the first inning, he allowed just two baserunners until the ninth inning, a fifth inning walk to Casey Long and a seventh inning walk to Jason Burkley. He erased both baserunners with groundout double plays.

Mississippi State put two runners on base in the ninth inning (walk to Matthew Maniscalco and walk to Steve Gendron) but Ramsey registered a fly out and got Jason Burkley to ground into a double play to end the game.

Florida grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third inning taking advantage of a Pat Osborn single and error. Aaron Davidson reached base on a fielders choice after Mark Kiger’s leadoff walk. Davidson stole second base then scored when Pat Osborn’s single to left field slipped past MSU left fielder Michael Brown. The ball rolled all the way to the fence and Osborn advanced all the way to third base. Osborn scored on Ryan Shealy’s RBI ground out.

Florida went up 3-0 when Mark Kiger scored from first on Pat Osborn’s opposite field double. Osborn laced a 3-1 Collums pitch down the right field line to score Kiger. The Gators added an insurance run in the eighth when Ryan Shealy singled, advanced to second on a balk and scored on Matt Goss’ two-out RBI single to right field.

Mississippi State starter Joey Collums threw the first 5.2 innings and allowed three hits, three runs (two earned). He struck out seven Gators.

The Gators are next in action Tuesday evening at home against South Florida. Game time is 6:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on Sunshine Network.

GAME NOTES

*With its three-game sweep, Florida became the first opponent to sweep Mississippi State at Dudy Noble Field for the first time since the 1997 season. Ironically, it was Florida in 1997 to sweep Mississippi State in Starkville.

*Florida has now won six consecutive games and completed two consecutive sweeps vs. Mississippi State. In addition, the Gators have won seven of the last 10 meetings.

*Florida completed its third SEC sweep of the season. The Gators have also swept Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State.

*Florida has now won nine of its last 10 games, eight of its last nine SEC contests.

*Florida registered its second shutout of the season. UF also shutout Savannah State on Feb. 20, 2002.